Blair, Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This baseball card of Blair, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, was created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Made from paper stock and photographic emulsion, its materiality speaks volumes about the burgeoning commodification of leisure in the late 19th century. Consider the photographic process itself: a labor-intensive, chemical transformation translated into a collectible object. The sepia tones, achieved through the developing process, lend a sense of nostalgia, connecting us to a bygone era of baseball. The card's small size, dictated by its intended placement within cigarette packs, highlights its dual role as both promotional item and collectible. These cards were products of their time, fueled by industrial production and mass consumption. They bridged the gap between the spectacle of the game and the everyday ritual of smoking, blurring the lines between sport, commerce, and popular culture. It's a potent reminder that even seemingly simple objects can reveal complex relationships between labor, leisure, and the material world.